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The forum facilitated the exchange of experiences and showcased good practices from faith-inspired initiatives that build resilience, address injustice, and contribute to transformative change. It also fostered mutual understanding and trust across sectors and traditions to create common ground for ethical leadership and member-led cooperation in the face of political, social, and funding-related disruptions.
Peter Prove, director of the WCC Commission on International Affairs, moderated a panel discussion, “From Prayer to Plate - Faith-Based Responses to Global Hunger,” which highlighted how faith actors are responding to the global challenge of hunger by combining moral conviction with practical action.
“The current crisis calls not for despair but for renewed and increased action,” said Prove. “In this forum, we heard and reflected on the crosscutting challenges pertaining to food and nutrition security and justice, and the contribution of religious actors in that context.”
Prove said those gathered regard this as a flagship focus for the whole Partnership on Religion and Sustainable Development network.
“We also discussed religious perspectives on AI and its applications,” Prove added. “And we saw the integration of representatives of youth movements in the leadership of PaRD, bringing fresh perspectives and energy to confront the challenges ahead."
Dinesh Suna, WCC programme executive for Land, Water, and Food, moderated a panel discussion on “Integrating Faith Perspectives in Ecological Sustainability, Gender, and Health
Policy.” The session highlighted the diverse ways in which faith traditions and actors contribute to addressing urgent global challenges at the community level.
Suna reflected that it was particularly exciting that this year’s PaRD annual forum centred around the theme of food security. “I was able to draw attention of the annual forum around the many engagements by faith-based organisations, led by WCC among others, during World Food Day and the 53rd Session of the Committee of World Food Security later this month in Rome.”
Suna urged PaRD members to support and endorse a “Faith Leaders Statement on Right to Food and Nutrition,” and to participate in a full-day consultation and nutrition dialogue around the jubilee year.
The WCC is a founding member of PaRD, with Prove a member of the Steering Board and Suna the co-lead of the Water, Environment, and Climate Action Workstream.
Learn more about the International Partnership on Religion and Sustainable Development (PaRD)
